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Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North QueenslandThe Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

Turnbull Government holding Queenslanders back in NDIS rollout

Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland
The Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Turnbull Government holding Queenslanders back in NDIS rollout

Queenslanders with disability are being unfairly disadvantaged by a Federal Government that refuses to give Queensland fair access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme funding.

In State Parliament today, Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke said it was time Malcolm Turnbull and his Federal LNP Government stopped short-changing Queenslanders.

“Queenslanders have been funding the NDIS through an extra Medicare levy since 2014. The Federal LNP Government is happy to take our money, but allowing Queenslanders fair access to that funding in the first two years, to allow for a smooth transition to the NDIS, is not in their plan,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“Instead the Federal Government is rationing our funding and delaying timely access to the NDIS for Queenslanders with disability.

“We aren’t asking for anyone else’s money, we are only asking for a fair go for Queenslanders with disability and for a commitment to an agreement that demonstrates that.

“Thousands of people with disability across the state are waiting for the NDIS. They don’t deserve to be short-changed by the Federal Government.”

Mrs O’Rourke said the Premier had signed a bilateral agreement on two separate occasions, only to have the Federal Government renege on the conditions around access to funding.

“They didn’t sign the first agreement because they didn’t want to give Queensland full and fair access to funding,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“On the second occasion, despite having made us an offer, they moved the goal posts and tied the agreement to further conditions.

“I am very disappointed that the urgency to sign a fair bilateral agreement is not shared by the Federal Government.

“I certainly hope that the new Federal Assistant Minister for Disability Services Jane Prenctice, a fellow Queenslander who will be sworn in today, understands how vital this agreement is for the NDIS in our state.

“I want Queenslanders to know that the Premier and I, along with our respective departmental officials, are doing everything we can to ensure we have a smooth transition to the NDIS, and that our primary concern is to secure the best possible solution for Queenslanders with disability.”